Transfer mechanism



J. F. OBRIEN TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28, 1938 M. RR m m m m W l NvA W J F, a, I 7 5 $5 06 2 11M /I E=== $21K r11 11 11 l 011117114 6/ Q m0 4 a 1 4 w 1% w W @F V v w 7 w 'Dec. 26,

Patented Dec. 26, 1939 TRANSFER MECHANISM John F. O'Brien, Waterbury,Conn., assignor to The Waterbury Farrel Foundry and Machine Company,Waterbury, Oonn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 23,1938, Serial No. 187,481

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in transfermechanisms. While adapted for use with any transfer mechanism of thegeneral type herein shown, it is particularly adapted for use with suchtransfer mechanism as is shown in Wilcox Patent No. 1,982,460, issuedNovember 27, 1934. In the upsetting machine therein shown there are fourdies and three sets of transfer fingers for simultaneously transferringa blank by each set of fingers from one die to another die, actuatedthrough two crank shafts that receive motion from a reciprocating rack.The transfer fingers move in timed relation with other parts, such ascut-off mechanism, punches or the like. The reciprocation of the rackrotates the crank shafts, which in turn move each pair of fingers in anarcuate path from one die to another die, and while traveling in onedirection carry the blanks from one die to the next die and travel inthe reverse direction for a new blank. The first of said dies, forconvenience, will be referred to as the receiving die and the latter asthe delivery die. In the operation of the transfer fingers it isdesirable that their movement be variable, that is, either delayed oradvanced when in predetermined positions. as the character of the blankand other considerations may dictate. In some cases it is desirable todelay movement of the fingers and in other cases to advance suchmovement. It is one of the principal objects of this invention toprovide means whereby such action and movement may be conveniently andpositively attained.

To these, and other ends, this invention consists in the transfermechanism, having certain details of construction and combinations ofparts as will be hereinafter described and more 'particularly pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicatelike-parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an upsetting, heading machine orthe like, with this improved mechanism associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an end view of the transfer mechanism, the parts in sectionbeing shown generally upon line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the cams, taken generally uponline 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are views of the cams in two of their relativepositions;

Figure 6 is a view of one cam, the part in section being shown on lines6-8 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the other cam, taken generally on line1-1 of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of motion of thetransfer fingers. V

In the drawing, i0 indicates the body of a header, upsetting machine orthe like; ii a die block in which is mounted a plurality of dies l2, l3,l4 and it. The three sets of fingers severally designated I 8, i1 and i3are movably mounted upon the shafts l9 which are actuated by the twocrank shafts 23 and the reciprocating rack 2i. The rack, finger shaftsand associated parts are supported upon a fixed platform 22 or the like.

The above described mechanism is shown and described in detail in theabove mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,982,460, to which reference ishereby made. The mechanism of said patent is shown merely for thepurpose of illustration, as other similar mechanism may be utilizedequally as well.

Fixed to the body In is a bracket 23, in which are the shafts 24 and 23.Upon the shaft 24 are fixed two cam plates 23 and 2'1. Journaled uponthe hub of plate 26 is a cam 28, and upon the hub of plate 21 a cam 23,each cam having a cam groove 30 in the inner faces thereof. Forconvenience the cam 23 is referred to as the inside cam and 23 theoutside cam. Each of the cams is adjustable about the shaft 24 andsecured in their adjusted positions by screws 32 which project througharcuate slots 3i in the cam plate and arethreaded into the adjacent cam.

On the shaft 25 is a rock lever 33 having a journal pin 34, whichprojects on opposite sides of one end of the lever and carrying therolls 3!, one roll within the groove 33 of cam 28 and the other in thegroove of cam 29.

An extension lever 31 is connected with the rock lever 33 by a stud 38and a shear pin 33, this pin being sufflciently strong to maintain thelevers 33 and 31 fixed in relation to each other under normalconditions, but weak enough to break under an abnormal strain. When thispin is thus ruptured the extension lever 3'! is free to pivot on stud 33without deriving motion from the lever 33.

A bolt 42 or the like, projects through the spaced arms of the fulcrumedend of the lever 33 and an arcuate slot 43 in the extension lever 31,which prevents any tendency of the lever arms spreading apart when thepin 33 is being sheared;

An adjustable connection is made between the rack 2| and lever 31 bymeans 01' the yoke blocks 39 and intermediate turn buckle mechanism 40.

. One yoke block is connected with the lever'3l by an adjusting screw4|. Movement is imparted to the rack 2| from the cam mechanism throughthe rock lever 33 in a. well known manner.

The shaft 24 is usually rotating continuously in the direction of thearrows in Figures 1, 4 and 5, and theheader gate or ram (not shown)carrying the punches,- reciprocates toward and away from the die blockII.

In Figure 1 the line 44 indicates the position of the cams when the gateor ram is most distant from the die block, and the line 45 the start ofthe transfer motion of the fingers.

The diagrammatic view, Figure 8, is designed to illustrate the path ofmovement of one pair of fingers, the other pairs of fingers movingthrough a similar path.

The legend die line indicates the line that extends through the centerof the dies [2, l3 and I4, the numerals 46 the receiving die, 41 'thedelivery die, and the half circle in broken lines represents the path ofthe blank as it travels from the receiving die to the delivery die. Anintermediate point in such transfer path being designated 48.

When there are a plurality of dies in excess of 'two the delivery diebecomes the receiving die in the movement of the next pair of fingers.That portion of the movement of the fingers from the delivery die to theintermediate point- 48 is designated as lifting out, that is, the pairsof fingers are moving away from the delivery die and traveling towardthe receiving die, and the remainder of such movement is designated asdropping in, that is, the pairs of fingers-are approaching the receivingdie.

To accommodate varying classes of work and workpieces, it is desirablethat the transfer fingers may be either delayed or advanced in theirmotion at either or both of the receiving or delivery dies and at anintermediatepoint therebetween.

In the form'of mechanism herein shown the cams and parts are arranged sothat the transfer movement of the fingers requires approximately 105 ofthe rotation of the shaft 24, with a dwell of approximately 60, whichallows sufficient time for the punches to push the blank into the die.The fingers during their lifting out movement travel throughapproximately 45 of the rotation of the shaft 24. The arrangement of thecams and parts as shown is such that these several degree requirements,namely, 105 transfer, 60 dwell, and 45 lifting out, may be advanced orretarded approximately 12 All of the degrees indicated, of course, maybe varied, whether more or less, as desired.

The transfer fingers may dwell at the intermediate position indicated by48, in Figure 8, varying from approximately 5 to approximately 55,during which time the gate or ram, with the punches thereon, moves awayfrom the die block I I. Movement of the fingers from this point to thereceiving die 46, termed dropping in is approximately 45, which also maybe advanced or retarded approximately 12 Therefore, the dwell of thefingers at or near the intermediate point 48 from approximately 5 toapproximately 55 and the dropping in thereof is independent of thetiming of the transfer of approximately 105, dwell of approximately 60,and the lifting out of approximately 55. The remainder of the dwell tocomplete the 360 of rotation of the shaft 24 will vary approximately 50to approximately 100, according to the relative position of the cams 28and 29.

Timing of the fingers l6, l1 and I8 is varied by shifting the relativeaxial position of the cams 28 and 29 with each other, the movement ofthe lever 33 being derived from the cams. through the cam rolls 35.Three of the relative positions of these cams is shown in Figures 1, 4,5, 6 and 7. In Figures 1, 4 and 5.the shaded portions represent the camgroove in the inside cam 28 arranged to overlie the outside cam 23. InFigure 1 the cams are illustrated in their relative positions when thegate orram is in approximately its rearmost position. From this positionthe fingers transfer the blank for 105 of the rotation of the cams andcarry the blank from the receiving to the delivery die where they dwellfor 60, then are lifted out for approximately 45, then dwellsubstantially at the intermediate point '48 for approximately 30, thenpass through the dropping-in portion of their path toward the receivingdie for approximately 45 with a dwell in register with the receiving diefor approximately With the cam as thus positioned the dwell at thereceiving die is approximately 75 and at the delivery die approximately60.

As shown in Figure 4 the cams have been adjusted so that the cam 39 -ismoved about the axis of the shaft 24 clockwise approximately 12 2- andthe cam 28 counterclockwise 12 which results in a change of movement ofthe fingers by advancing the transfer and lifting out and retarding thedropping in of the fingers with the dwells 50 and 55 respectively,instead of 75 and 60 respectively, aswith the cams positioned as inFigure 1.

As shown in Figure 5 the cams have been fingers is advantageous wherethe fingers transfer blanks of various lengths and also with partiallyextruded blanks.

During transfer of an extruded blank the fingers usually grasp thesmaller diameter thereof, therefore, the fingers should be moved awayfrom the blank at the deliverydie in time to clear the next largerdiameter of the blank as it is pushed into the die. Likewise, when theblank is reduced or extruded in the receiving die, it is desirable todelay the engagement of the transfer fingers with the blank as it isejected from the die until the portion having the larger diameter hasbeen ejected from the die sufliciently to permit the fingers to engagethe blank at its smaller diameter. Under such circumstances the cams areadjusted to retard the fingers while the work is ejected from thereceiving die and advanced after the blank is at the delivery die.Another desirable path of movement of the fingers, depending upon thecharacter of the work, is to present the same in front of the opening inthe receiving die as the blank is ejected therefrom and grasped by thefingers, and then transferring it to the delivery die. In such cases thefingers remain a greater length of time at the delivery die to enablethe punches to project the blank into the die before the fingers aredisengaged therefrom. Such result is obtained when theiiu aromas camsare positioned substantially as shown in Figure 4. During some portionsof the rotation of the cams, the cam rolls 35 are controlled by the camgroove in both of the cams and during other portions by the cam groovein only one cam, at which time the cam roll associated with thenon-operating cam projects into a clearance portion 49 of the cam-groovetherein.

This mechanism will operate equally as well with tools other than dies.

Changes, additions and modifications can be made in the herein describedmechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping ablank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station andcarrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and meansfor adjustably controlling the movement of such transfer means that itsspeed of approach at or near the delivery station may be accelerated orretarded.

2. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a'spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping ablank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station andcarrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and meansfor adjustably so controlling the movement of such transfer means thatits speed of approach at or near the receiving station may beaccelerated or retarded.

3. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping ablank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station andcarrying it through a defined path to the delivery station, and meansfor so controlling the movement of said grasping means that the point ofcontact thereof with the blank may be varied to accommodate blanks ofvarying lengths and sizes and the portion thereof then projecting fromthe die.

4. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, 1 spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping thesmaller diameter of an extruded blank as it is ejected from the die atthe receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to thedelivery station; and means for so controlling the movement of saidgrasping means that it will only engage the blank at the receivingstation after all of the portion of the blank having a larger diameterhas been ejected from the die.

5. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping thesmaller diameter of an extruded blank as it is ejected from the die atthe receiving station and carrying it through a defined path to thedelivery station; means for so controlling the movement'of the saidgrasping means that it will only engage the blank at the receivingstation after all of the portion of the blank having a larger diameterhas been ejected from the die and will be disengaged therefrom beforesaid larger diameter portion is projected into the path of such graspingmeans.

6. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station, a spaceddelivery station and a die at each station; of means for grasping ablank as it is ejected from the die at the receiving station andcarrying it through a defined path to the delivery station; and meansfor controlling '7. The combination with mechanism having a receivingstation, a spaced delivery station and a die at each station; of meansfor grasping a blank as it is ejected from the die at the receivingstation and carrying it through a defined path to the delivery station;and means for controlling the movement of such transfer means that itsspeed of approach at or near the delivery station may be accelerated orretarded, said means comprising in part companion cams, andmechanismhaving parts thereon that project into the path of both of said cams andindependently actuated at difi'erent times during the travel of saidgrasping means from one of said stations to the other of said stations.

8. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and aspaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successiveindependent blanks of variable length from one station to the otherstation in a predetermined cycle, comprising in part an actuating arm, arotatable shaft, a pair of spaced cams on the shaft having faces engagedby said arm; and means for adjusting the position of the cams whereby tovary the relative movement of the transfer mechanism at one or moreplaces in its cycle of operations.

- 9. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and aspaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successiveindependent blanks of variable length from one station to the otherstation in a predetermined cycle through a defined path at anaccelerated or retarded speed, comprising in part a rotatable shaft,spaced members on the shaft, and an axially adjustable cam carried byeach of said members; and a movable arm actuated by the cams.

10. The combination with mechanism having a receiving station and aspaced delivery station; of mechanism for transferring successiveindependent blanks of variable length from one station to the otherstation in a predetermined cycle through a defined path at anaccelerated or retarded speed, comprising in part a rotatable shaft; anactuating arm; a pair of spaced members on said shaft: and an axiallyrotatable cam carried by each of said members, having a cam groove, thatreceives a part of said arm; and means for adjusting said cams on saidmembers and relative to each other whereby to vary the movement of saidarm.

11. In a device of the character described for use with a transfermechanism having a receiving station; a spaced delivery station; and amovable arm through which independent blanks of various lengths aretransferred from one station to the other station in a predeterminedcycle through a defined path at an accelerated or retarded speed,including a rotatable shaft opposed cams carried by the shaft, eachhaving a groove with an offset clearance portion adapted to receive aportion of said arm; and means whereby said cams may be adjusted abouttheir common 12. The combination with transfer mechanism; of'areciprocating member imparting movement thereto; a rock member having anoperative connection with said reciprocating member; means to actuatethe aforesaid members whereby independent blanks of variable length maybe transferred successively from one station to another station in apredetermined cycle, comprising in part a rotatable shaft, a. pair ofspaced cams on the shaft having faces engaged by said rock member; andmeans for adjusting the relative positions of said cams whereby to varythe relative speed of the transfer mechanism during 5 one or moreportions of its cycle.

JOHN F. O'BRIEN.

